Buried cable terminal



Dec. 26, 1939.. H. G. ADDIE 2,184,574

BURIED lCABLE TERMINAL l Filed April 12, 1938 2 sheets-sheet 1 50 y 29 6 5 {j/Q 26 4 n rv. @525 Q@ 4/ 0 9 1 m31 ff Q 9 o- Q42 0^, 4/

DEC. 26, H Q ADDIE 2,184,574

BURIED CABLE TERMINAL Filsdpril 12, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 www my Patented Dec. 26, 11939 UNITED STATES BURIED CABLE TERNHNAL Herbert G. Addie, Cresce, Iowa Application April 12,

, A3 Claims. v The invention aims to provide'a new and iniproved terminal for underground multiple-wire.

cables used 'in telephone systems,l of such construction that any' required electrical connections 55 may be easily made for throughlines, private lines, party lines, etc., and ysaid connections will be readily accessible for testing 'purposes in case of trouble.

.With the vforegoing in view, the invention rewhile said construction'may be considered as pre-V "ferred, variations may be made within the scope of the invention as claimed. f

A base 1 is provided to be embedded inand project above the ground. The main body 8 of this base is formed from concrete, opposite sides of said body being provided with longitudinal grooves 9 `to receive multiplefwire' cables I0, said grooves extending from points' nearthe lower end'of the base entirely tothe upper end of the latter. In the presentshowing, metal side plates I I close the outer sides of the grooves 9 except at the lower ends of the latter, the edges of said plates being embedded inthe concrete. A metal cap plate I2 rests on the body Stand is secured thereto by bolts I3 and nuts Ill, said bolts being embedded in the concrete body 8. The plate I2 is provided with a downwardly projecting flange I5 which surrounds the upper portion of the body 8 and the side plates I I, and said plate I2 is provided also with an upwardly projecting flange I6 which is surrounded by the lower end of a vertically elongated tubular casing Il, the upper end of said casing being provided with a closure I8 which is preferably integral therewith. The casing I'I contains the structural characteristics now to be described and said casing is removably secured upon the base in a manner hereinafter explained, so that upon removal of the casing, all electrical connections are readily accessible for testing purposes. j

A vertically elongated box-like structure I9 rises rigidly from the base 'I and is preferably of sides inthe novel subject matter hereinafter de-v 1938, serial No. 201,603

(ci. ivithe construction shown.- Twok spaced metal supporting legs 2l] are provided for ,this structure I9, said legs being integral with a foot plate 2l which rests upon the capplate I2 of the base said foot plate being secured in place bythe bolts I3 and the nuts Iii above described. Integral'with the upper ends ofthe legs 23, are'two parallel vertical side plates 22, the upper kand lower ends of these side plates being integrally connected with Ieach other by top and bottom plates 23 and 24 respectively; said bottom plate being provided with openings 25 between the laterally spaced vertically elongated legs 20, through which the cables Ill may enter the structure I9. The "spacing and elongation of these legs gives ample room in which to work, permitting easy guiding of the cables Il) from the passages 9 intothe openings 25. rlhe top plate 23 is preferably formed with openings closed by plugs 25, permitting the introduction'of pot-head compound 2 or the like to fill and seal the interior of the structurel@ after all cable connections have been completed. 5 The top and bottom plates 23 and 24 are preferably integrally' connected with each other by a vertically disposed tube 21. Through this' tube, a vertical rod 28 passes, the lower portion of said rod being embedded in the concrete body 8 of the base 1. This rod projects above the top plate 23 and a nut 29 is threaded upon said rod in abutting relation with said top plate, vthus assisting in rigidly securing the box-like structure I3 upon the base. Thissame rod 28 is also instrumental in securing the tubular casing Il upon the base, the top I8 of said casing being provided with an opening 3] through which said., rod passes, a nut 3I being threaded on said rod in contact with the upper side of said top I8. Preferably an upstanding guard sleeve 32 rises from the top I8 around the nut 3| and is provided with a protecting cap 33. When this cap is removed, the nut 3l is accessible with a socket wrench and may be removed from the rod 28, `whereupon the entire casingI'I may be lifted from the base 'l to expose its contents.

In addition to the parallel side` plates 22 above described, the box-like structure I9 includes two additional side plates 34 formed from suitable insulating material, these plates 3d being secured to the plates 22 by screws or the like 35. In the present showing, the inner sides of the plates 22 are provided with transverse ribs 36 having openings in their ends receiving the screws 35. The intermediate portions of the plates 34 are prolvided with any desired number and arrangement of binding posts or terminals 31 to which all required electrical connections may be made. The individual wires 38 of the cables I0 may be soldered or otherwise secured to the inner ends of these terminals or binding posts 3l, and any other necessary wires, such as jumpers 39 or branch wires 40, may be connected with the outer ends of said binding posts or terminals. The vertical edge portions of the side plates 34 project laterally beyond the side plates 22 as seen at 4I and are provided with vertically spaced openings 42 through which the jumper wires 39 or any of the other necessary wires may be passed, to hold them in orderly spaced relation.

When connecting the cable wires 38 With the terminals or binding posts 3l, the casing Il is of course 01T of the base l and the side plates 34 are detached from the side plates 22. After the connections have been made, however, the plates 34 are secured in place by the screws 35, the pothead compound or the like is poured into the box-like structure I9 to seal against moisture, and any other electrical connections may then be made, such as applying jumper-wires 39 or branch wires 40. When the casing Il is now applied and secured in place, the various wires and electrical connections are effectively protected against weather conditions and other hazards. Whenever trouble develops, it is an easy matter to remove the casing Il, giving access to all of the terminals for testing purposes.

As excellent results may be obtained from the details disclosed, they may well be followed. However, within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations may be made as above stated,

and obviously I am not limited to size, proportions, materials, number of terminals, arrangement of terminals, etc.

I claim:-

1. A buried cable terminal comprising a base to be embedded in and project above the ground, said base having passage means through which buried cables may pass to the upper end of said base, a vertically elongated box-like structure spaced upwardly from said base and having vertically elongated supporting legs secured upon said base, said legs being laterally spaced to permit easy guiding of cables from said passage means into said box-like structure, said structure comprising two parallel vertical side plates, top and bottom plates rigidly connecting said side plates, and two additional side plates secured to and extending between' the rst mentioned side plates, said bottom plate being apertured between said legs to permit upward passage of the cables into the box-like structure,

said additional side plates having terminals to 4attached laterally spaced vertically elongated supporting legs, said structure comprising two parallel vertical side plates, top and bottom plates integral with said side plates and rigidly connecting the same, a central vertical tube extending between said top and bottom plates through which to pass an anchoring rod, said tube being integrally joined to said top and bottom plates, and two additional side plates extending between and detachably secured against the edges of the first mentioned side plates, said bottom plate being apertured between said legs to permit upward insertion of a cable into said box-like structure, said additional side plates being provided with terminals to which the cable wires may be connected.

3. A buried cable terminal comprising a base to be embedded in and project above the ground, said base having passage means through which buried cables may pass to the upper end of said base, a vertically elongated box-like structure spaced upwardly from said base and having vertically elongated supporting legs secured upon said base, said legs being laterally spaced to permit easy guiding of cables from said passage means into said box-like structure, said structure comprising two parallel vertical guide plates, top and bottom plates rigidly connecting said side plates, and two additional side plates secured to and extending between the rst mentioned side plates, said bottom plate being apertured between said legs to permit upward passage of the cables into said box-like structure, said additional side plates having terminals4 to which the cable wires may be secured, a rod anchored to said base and extending upwardly through said bottom and top plates and projecting above the latter, a casing enclosing said box-like structure and resting removably on said base, said casing having av closed upper end provided with an opening through which the upper end of said rod passes, and a nut on said rod abutting said casing end.

HERBERT G. ADDIE. 

